Marine Fisheries

Dolphin - 2013

Stock Status – Viable – The status of dolphin is based on trends in landings data. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment in 2011. The amendment sets Annual Catch Limits, accountability measures and allocations for dolphin. The South Atlantic Annual Catch Limit for dolphin is set at 14,596,216 pounds (whole weight) with an allocation of 7.3% commercial and 92.7% recreational. If the Annual Catch Limit is exceeded, the following year’s landings would be monitored in-season to see if there is a continued increase in landings. If so, NOAA Fisheries would publish a notice to reduce the length of the fishing season as necessary to ensure the Annual Catch Limit is not exceeded. A new stock assessment is scheduled for 2015.

Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) – Dolphin is currently included in the North Carolina Interjurisdictional Fishery Management Plan, which defers to South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Fishery Management Plan compliance requirements. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved a Fishery Management Plan for dolphin in 2004.

Habits and Habitats – Dolphin are a coastal/oceanic highly migratory pelagic species. The current hypothesis suggests dolphin migrate from the central Caribbean through the mid–Atlantic to Bermuda and back to the central Caribbean, however the occurrence of year–round dolphin off the coast of North Carolina suggest dolphin likely have a more complex stock structure than originally thought. Dolphin are extremely fast growing (3.78 mm/day in the first 6 months), mature early, and have a protracted spawning season (year round, with highest levels from January through June).